Index-case equipment for delivery of mail.



No. 765,893. y PATENTBD JULY ze, 19,04. J.' W. HOWARD & R. M. MOKBE.

INDEXCASE EQUIPMENT FOR DELIVERY 0I' MAIL.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 7, 1993.

N0 MODEL. l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

v f Ill. "55- 5.-

:. Iilllllllllll ;No. 765,893. PATENTEDJULY 26, 1904. J. W. HOWARD R. M. MGKEB. INDEX CASE EQUIPMENT FOR DELIVERY 0F MAIL.

APPLIATION FILED JULY 7. 19113.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH IV. HOWARD AND ROBERT M. MOKEE, OF GREENEVILLE,

TENNESSEE.

INDEX-CASE EQUIPMENT FOR DELIVERY OF MAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,893, dated July 26, 1904.

Application filed July 7,1903. Serial No. 164,617. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOSEPH W. HOWARD and ROBERT M. MCKEE, citizens of the United States, residing at Greeneville, in the county of Greene and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Index-Oase Equipment for Delivery of Mail on Rural Routes and for Like Delivery in Cities, which equipment is a combination outfit attached to the person of the bearer by suitable furniture and harness, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to index-mail equipment; and it has for its object the provision of novel means for holding mail after it has been assorted in order to retain separate the bunches intended for different portions of a rural or city carriers route, thereby enabling the carrier to prepare the mail at the office and distribute it without rebandling, except to take it from the receptacle at the different points or stages of a route.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide cell-cases for receiving the mail and retaining' it assorted and in combination therewith pouches or bags depending from and supported by said cell-cases in order that bulky packages or papers, merchandise, and the like may be accommodated, it being' understood that for the purpose of convenience the cellcases and pouches are duplicated and supported one on each side, the case and pouch on one side being for delivery on the side of the route on which they are suspended from the carrier.

Furthermore, an Object of the invention is to produce a novel means for suspending the cell-cases from a suitable harness iitted to the shoulders and back of the carrier, yet so attached as to move easily on their supporting belt or band, thus to bring them under the eye of the deliverer, so that the hands may be unoccupied except for the delivery of the mail.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to produce a novel hutch suitably supported at the back of the carrier as a means for car- -rying unusually heavy mail or an unusual quantity of mail, the said hutch being so suspended as to be drawn to either side of the carrier and when so drawn to rest above a cell-case.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to produce cell-cases which may be collapsed when not in use or when packed for shipment in order to economize space'and reduce the size of a package of cases and equipments made up for shipment.

Finally, an object of the invention is to provide cell-cases, pouches, harness, and hutch which will possess advantages in points of simplicity, eliiciency, and durability, proving at the same time comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and withal facilitate methodical, accurate, and punctual delivery of the mail, in which harness and receptacles can be readily applied and removed as a whole whether the receptacles are loaded or empty.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the detail of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 illustrates the invention comprising the harness and receptacles. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cell-case. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the cases knocked down. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two racks and a fragment of a partition. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a hook and latch by which the cell-cases are suspended and secured. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a partition. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fragment of a rack. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hooks for supporting the hutch. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hutch and its attaching means. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a pouch.

In the drawings we illustrate a suitable harness comprising two straps l 1, adapted to lit over the shoulders and crossing at the back in order that displacement of the said straps from the shoulders may be prevented. The parts l, which fit the back of the wearer,

Having fully described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a mail-carriers equipment, a harness comprising two receptacle-supporting straps and suitable means for retaining the straps on the carrier, receptacles, hangers slidable on the straps by which the receptacles are supported, the said straps being in such relation that the receptacle on one strap is permitted to ride over the receptacle on the other strap. i

2. In a mail-carriers equipment two supporting-straps, one of which lies on an approximately horizontal plane and the other lying horizontally at the rear and being inclined toward the front, the receptacles suspended from the straps, the receptacle on the inclined portions being elevated above the receptacles on an approximately horizontal strap.

3. In a mail-carriers equipment, cell-cases each comprising a receptacle having foldable sides, ends and bottom, racks on the inner surface of the cell-cases and partitions interlocking with the racks substantially as de-l scribed.

4. In a device of the character described, a receptacle comprising foldable' sides, ends, and bottom, racks on the internal sides of the receptacle, partitions having flanged edges engaging the racks and a means for holding the parts in their assembled relation.

5. In a mail-carriers equipment, a suitable harness, cell-cases suspended from the harness, pouches suspended from the cell-cases, and a hutch suspended at the back and adapted to ride over the cell-cases substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 30th day of June, 1903.

JOSEPH W. HOWARD.

ROBERT M. MCKEE.

Witnesses: I

J AMEs W. MCINTUREE, EUGENE A. WILsoN. 

